Kathleen got her first real storyline in DJH season two. The
episode, "Bottled Up"[1] gives us a
glimpse of Kathleen's home-life. We are introduced to Kathleen's
alcoholic mother whose behaviour is severely affecting her
daughter. Kathleen invites Caitlin, Nancy Kramer (played by Arlene Lott) and
Tim O'Connor (played by Keith White) to her house to prepare for a
quiz show appearance and is humiliated to find her mother at home
and noticeably intoxicated. In a later episode from the third
season, "Food For Thought"[2], Kathleen
invites Melanie
Brodie (played by Sara Ballingall), her best friend throughout
much of DJH, to her house to work on a science project. Her mother
is, again, drinking heavily and Melanie learns about Kathleen's
burgeoning problem with anorexia nervosa when she sneaks a peak in
her personal diary. Melanie takes pity on Kathleen believing that
her eating disorder is stemming from her problems at home. She
confronts Kathleen and tells her to get help. Kathleen is furious
that her secret is out, but that day passes out in the middle of
the school hallway.

Kathleen eventually does get counseling, but her problems
continue into high school. Kathleen begins dating a boy named Scott
(played by Byrd Dickens) in high school. He turns out to be an
overly possessive boyfriend and physically assaults Kathleen during
a quarrel[3]. Kathleen
eventually involves the police and frees herself from Scott.
Kathleen is one of the better students at Degrassi. She is often
seen competing with Caitlin Ryan in school and, in the DJH episode
"Stagefright"[4], Susie Rivera
(played by Sarah Charlesworth) tells Caitlin "you always beat her",
referring to Kathleen.

Kathleen seemed to have conservative political and social views.
Throughout the series she took issue with homosexuality (in the
episode "Rumor Has It"[5]), sex before
marriage (in the episode "Censored"[6]) and animal
rights activism (in the episode "The Whole Truth"[7]). Her sober
presence made her unpopular with many of her peers, most notably
Caitlin and Rick Munro (played by Craig Driscoll).

Kathleen was also vice president of Degrassi Junior High. She
lost the election to Nancy who was the only other presidential
candidate. Kathleen was a turbulent addition to the Degrassi
landscape and her character was used to explore some of the most
dangerous teenage issues that the show tackled.

In the Degrassi: The Next Generation Season 1 special features,
a video is made for the reunion showing where some of the students
of Degrassi High are now. Kathleen is shown being jealous of
Caitlin's success after high school. She says she is pitching an
idea for a new television show called "Mead in Canada."